Speakers: Zhao Xuan, Ph.D., Assistant professor of neurobiology, School of Biology and Ecology, UMaine

About the speakers:

Dr. Zhao Xuan is an assistant professor of Neurobiology at the University of Maine, specializing in cellular and molecular biology of neurons, synapse development, and invertebrate genetics. She earned her Ph.D. from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2014. Dr. Xuan’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of synapse formation and function, intending to reveal novel mechanisms underlying synaptic deficits in neurological diseases. Learn more about Dr. Xuan

About the seminar: 

The brain consists of neurons that communicate via synapses, and the loss of these connections is linked to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Our goal is to maintain synapse health. With 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses, the human brain is complex, making direct study challenging. In my lab, we use C. elegans, a 1mm worm with a fully mapped connectome, to investigate neuronal communication. Despite its simplicity, C. elegans shares molecular similarities with humans, including DNA, proteins, and signaling pathways. In this talk, I will present our discovery of Clarinet, a novel synaptic protein, using forward genetics and microscopy. I will discuss its role in synaptic processes, such as autophagy, by bridging the active and periactive zones.

The event is free but registration is required. Register here!